Him by Carey Heywood (reading strategies book .txt) 📕

He uses the same cup every day. My mom will hand wash it tonight after dinner. Walking past me, he pats me on the shoulder and continues into the living room. He's semi-retired but took this week off for the wedding because I was going to be around. He has always been a man of few words, unlike my mother, who I get my mouth from. Thinking of my mother, I'm excited to see my Uncle Chip. I had only lived with him for five years in New Jersey before he moved to Florida. He loved Jersey but was over all of the snow in the winter time. He is still my favorite uncle, and I will always owe him one for taking me in like he did. After finishing my breakfast, I go back upstairs to shower and get dressed. I peep out the window when I hear a door slam and race downstairs when I see it's my mom with Chip.

Swinging open the front door, I pull my uncle into a hug. "Nice tan. Florida must be treating you well."

"Hey, kiddo. I'm loving it. Saw you got a shitload of snow last winter. Ready to move yet?"

"You'll be the first to know."

"Alright, you two," my mom says, pushing Chip into the house. "In, in."

I walk backwards into the living room to make room for them. "How was your flight?"

He scrunches his nose, which makes me laugh, and he gives me a confused look. I motion for him to go on.

"I wanted to take a little nap on the plane. I tried the best I could, but Christ, there was this fella somewhere behind me with a god-awful rumble of a snore. I feel bad for whoever sat right around him. Other than that, it was fine. Thank you for asking sweetheart." He tweaks my nose.

"Sarah can you take your uncle's bags up to Brian's old room?"

"I can carry them," he argues, but I grab one anyway and huff it up the stairs. Holy shitcrickets. It’s heavy!

I'm gasping by the time I'm at the top. "What's in this?"

Chip shrugs then takes the handle and pulls it the rest of the way to Brian's old room. I head back downstairs and give my mom a good morning kiss on the cheek. She pats my butt, which reminds me how weird my family is.

"Did you eat?" she asks over her shoulder as she walks into the kitchen.

I trail after her. "I did. Where’d you get the muffins?"

"Christine made them. Aren’t they great?"

"Shit, she can cook too? How the hell did Brian get her?"

"Language, Sarah."

I smirk. My mother can cuss like a sailor. Chip comes up behind me so I hop on the counter to make room for him to get past. My father comes up behind him, and seeing me on the counter again, throws his hands up. I make a face and slide down off the counter. My mom makes some coffee so I sit with them and have a cup. I can't help but raise an eyebrow at my mother every time she cusses. She looks away like she doesn’t see me. They talk about the trouble we used to get into when we were kids, mainly Brian. He was a prankster and always up to something. Luckily, he never did anything really dangerous. It’s fun hearing all those old stories. There are a couple I have no memory of.

"Yes, you were there." My mom was adamant.

"Are you sure?" I'm not buying it. I totally would have remembered Brian covering my bedroom door with cling wrap.

She just sits there, nodding while I think about it. Shrugging, I finally give it up. I still can’t remember it.

"So what's for lunch?" My stomach is talking, and if I don’t get anything in it soon, I will probably eat another muffin.

"Your brother and Christine are bringing subs."

"But how do they know what I want?" I whine.

They all turn to look at me. My mother leans forward and sets her chin in her hand. "Sarah, what is the only sub you have ever ordered since elementary school?"

"Um, a BLT?" I'm not sure why I say it like a question.

"And if you could have any sandwich on the planet today, what kind would you get?"

She doesn’t have to look so proud of herself. "A BLT," I grumble.

Chip laughs and pats my upper arm. My mother smiles her world famous 'I know everything why do you even argue with me' smile.

I glance at the microwave to check the time when my stomach rumbles again. "When are they coming?"

"Soon. Eat a banana if you're starving," my mom says, pushing the bowl towards me.

"I had one with breakfast." That's a valid argument, right?

"Heaven forbid you eat two bananas in one day, Sarah."

"Ugh. I don’t want another banana, Mom." I push up from the table, about to go upstairs when I hear Brian and Christine walk in the front door. I jog over to them, blowing kisses and taking the food bags.

"Hungry?" Brian's shaking his head.

"Did you have a muffin this morning?" Christine asks, following me into the kitchen.

I’m digging through the bags, looking for my sub as I answer. "Best muffin I've ever had."

"I know, right?" Brian comes up around her and wraps his arms around her waist.

My Uncle Chip stands up to hug and kiss them. I find my sub, and even though it might be slightly rude, I dig in. My mouth is full when Will walks in. I put my hand over my mouth and look towards the back door.

"You didn’t wait for me?" He hugs Chip before sitting next to me.

"Only Sarah couldn’t wait." My mother smiles at me sweetly as she throws me under the bus.

Now that I've swallowed my bite, I take a deep, soothing breath and reply, "My mother," shooting her a look, "only mentioned Brian and Christine were coming." I look back at her again. "Thanks, mom. Really, thank you."

"It's cool. Brian just thought you might need my help